ODM leader Raila Odinga has met Nairobi County
Assembly leadership twice in a span of four days in a bid to reconcile MCAs with Governor
Johnson Sakaja.
On Monday evening, Raila met the Assembly leadership
at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) offices in Upperhill, just a few
hours after the MCAs announced they had collected 100 signatures to oust
Sakaja.
The meeting followed a similar one held on
Friday at Raila’s home off Kerarapon road, Karen, that was attended by Sakaja, his
deputy Njoroge Muchiri and key leaders of the Assembly led by Speaker Ken
Ngondi.
Consequently, Raila is hosting all Azimio
MCAs this morning in Upperhill as their UDA counterparts are expected to meet President
William Ruto today, Tuesday, as the two coalitions seek a truce to
save Sakaja.
Raila called for the meeting as it’s
emerging that the ODM party that controls the majority in the Assembly is keen not
to be seen as the one ‘fighting’ its Broad-based’ partner UDA in Nairobi.
The issues of the ODM-UDA relationship were first
deliberated at an ODM Central Committee meeting held last Thursday at Orange
House, chaired by Raila.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet
Mohamed is said to have raised the issue, urging the need to hold dialogue between
the warring parties, prompting the series of meetings.
Monday’s nearly 5-hour meeting was attended
by Speaker Ng’ondi, Majority Leader Peter Imwatok, Majority Whip Moses Ogeto, Deputy
Majority Whip Stazo Omungala, Deputy Majority Leader John Ndile and Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee Willfred Odalo.
From the Minority side, Leader Anthony Kiragu,
Deputy Waithera Chege Mwaura, Whip Mark Mugambi and Deputy Whip Joyce Kamau
added.
The meeting resolved to convene separate meetings of both the majority (Azimio) and minority (UDA) before holding a joint
meeting to deliberate with members to resolve issues.
Among the issues to be discussed are stalled development projects, including dilapidated roads, allocation and utilisation of Ward Fund kitty, bursaries allocation and members' welfare.
“Our party leader (Raila) emphasised the
need to resolve the issues and avoid instability in Nairobi. It doesn’t serve
anyone’s interest to fight, especially as both teams are in the Broad-based government,”
South C MCA Abbas Khalif said. On Monday noon, Kileleshwa’s Robert Alai
sought to downplay the meeting between Raila, Sakaja and MCAs, saying the county
chief always seeks refuge in the ODM leader whenever under siege.
“You know, when there is always a tiff
between MCAs and the Governor, he runs to Raila Odinga and gets saved. This
time it will not be easier for him because the issues at hand are between him
and the MCAs and not Raila,” Alai said.
Roysambu’s Petterson Wamumbi added, “Raila
has always spoken for himself. If he feels he has something to say, he will.
For now, people should not speak on his behalf.”
Nairobi West MCA Rex Omolleh insisted that
the efforts by Raila may not bear fruit unless the governor addresses the issues
raised by county legislators.
“No one will coerce MCAs to vote a certain way.
We are raising legitimate issues that bedevil the county. Raila’s intervention
may not help at all,” Omolleh added.
Alai insisted that MCAs have already made a
decision, but he will attend today’s meeting to understand why the governor is seeking
help outside the assembly and also to explain to their party leader why they
want Sakaja out.